Apple is preparing to release a minor update for iPhone, iOS 17.6.1, alongside iPadOS 17.6.1 for iPad.
This information was posted by user @Alex.Chuck on X and was also confirmed by another account. It will be a minor update to iOS 17.6 that Apple released not long ago and will carry the build number 21G93.
iOS 17.6.1 will be a minor update to iOS 17.6.
iOS 17.6.1 is an exciting update, not because it brings many new features, but because it will be almost the last update for compatible devices before Apple releases iOS 18 this September, along with the iPhone 16 series.
Essentially, iOS 17.6.1 will likely fix some of the issues discovered in iOS 17.6, and may even improve battery life after a recent battery life test video showed that many iPhone models were experiencing “battery drain” after updating to iOS 17.6. Of course, that’s just speculation, as no devices have been recorded running iOS 17.6.1 to determine the new improvements.
One thing to note is that Apple could still kill iOS 17.6.1 the same way it did iOS 17.5.2 in order to focus its efforts on iOS 18 and iOS 18.1 — both of which are already available as developer betas.
Does iOS 17.6.1 help improve iPhone battery life?
In addition, the company also needs to complete its AI feature set, Apple Intelligence, soon before deploying it later this year. Apple Intelligence had previously had to delay its release with iOS 18 due to some issues.
It’s still unclear when Apple will release iOS 17.6.1 to the public. Some are saying it will be before August 15, while others are saying it will be released later this month. Since iOS 17.6 doesn’t bring any new features, users may have to wait until iOS 18 to see a major overhaul of the mobile operating system.
With the release of the final major update to iOS 17, Apple can now focus on iOS 18 and the upcoming Apple Intelligence features. While this update brings a number of features, it’s one of the least exciting versions of iOS 17 because all the attention is on iOS 18, which is also compatible with iOS 17 devices.
iOS 17.6 is now officially available to compatible iPhone users.
For iOS 17.6 and iPadOS 17.6, Apple added the following features:
Apple News+ supports Live Activity for the home screen and lock screen so users can continue to follow games and other real-world stories happening at the time.
It also brings a new messaging app setting that allows users to filter unknown senders if they are international senders.
Apple also mentioned the usual bug fixes and security patches, though it's unclear what their purpose is at this point.
For iPad users, this could be the last update for iPad 6 and second-generation iPad Pro users as Apple is not supporting them with iPadOS 18.
Update size is approximately 900 MB or more depending on iPhone model.
After iOS 17.6 is released, Apple will introduce iOS 18 along with the launch of the iPhone 16 series in September. However, this version will not have Apple Intelligence features and users will have to wait for iOS 18.1. When Apple Intelligence is deployed, users can get tools including Writing Tools, Image Playground, Memories in Photos, and Clean Up tool.
Along with iOS 17.6, Apple has also released iPadOS 17.6, watchOS 10.6, macOS Sonoma 14.6, tvOS 17.6, and visionOS 1.3. To update to iOS 17.6, compatible iPhone users should go to Settings > General > Software Update and tap Update Now .
